Between November 30 and December 29, 2009, I was in training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. So many other things have failed for me between August 2007 and today that I didn't want to mention any of this until I earned the certificate. On December 30, 2009, I accomplished that goal with a final score of 93. The top student scored 94. Beginning on Monday, January 4, 2010, when all the festivities and vacation is washed out of the country and we all go back to work, I will be seeking employment with the one nursing home willing to hire me fresh out of school. I have one year after completing my classroom instruction to test for state certification. Once I am state certified, I can increase my pay and work in hospitals.
I have always wanted to be in the medical field, but I was under the impression that you had to have a two year degree for even the most basic of jobs. I remember what my sister went through to become a dental assistant. Given my circumstances, I would not have survived two years of struggle without a reliable income.
Completing CNA training was a miracle from start to finish. I was riding with a friend on Old National Highway who needed help locating the post office on Godby Road. On this day, the car I was riding in lined up with a sign I never saw before - "Free Training For Those Who Qualify." It was posted in front of a building I always passed but never paid attention to each time I rode the bus to the train station. Since I already knew I didn't qualify for the free training (I don't qualify for any government programs) I took down their number anyway, just to ask questions. While my friend was in the post office, I called the school and they proceeded to tell me about Certified Nursing Assistants, how in demand the jobs are, how men are strongly in demand for the position, and that they had just two seats remaining in a class that just started. Tuition was $600 and I could start the 5 week class immediately if I had $250 to start.
I just cleared an overdraft in my checking account and had ZERO dollars available, but I had to be in that class. I went to the school the next day to tour the facility and ask more questions. When I met the students in the class, something just clicked with me, the instructor and the other students. The energy just felt right, so I filled out the paperwork with half a mustard seed of faith and the school accepted me with $50. That triggered a $34 overdraft fee.
I then needed $60 for the next installment in order to get my book and bus fare. My friend helped me by giving me back the CLEAR commission I paid him.
My good friend Thaddeus needed a reformat and restoration of his Dell laptop. Even though I did the work for free, he paid me for the work. I was able to get my first set of scrubs.
My friend at the house gave me $20 because his spirit moved him to do so. I purchased a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff at Walgreens for $18.18.
Even though the school is 5 miles from where I live, making the trip in this cold weather was not easy. A few times, I had to make the 30-minute walk to the bus stop. When I rode my bike, the time was reduced to 10 minutes, but my hands and face paid the price every time.
But, the big miracle happened when I needed to pay for final $490 due on December 17. That payment was critical because without it, I would be unable to get CPR training or complete the 16 hours of clinical experience in a nursing home. The last three weeks would have been a waste. And, my friend told me that if I was unable to make the $490 payment, he wouldn't be able to help me and offered to buy me a bus ticket back to Los Angeles. Nearly every day leading up to the 17th, the enrollment counselor nagged me about the payment. The main plan I had in place to earn the money failed. I hatched a plan to service computers for just $20 a pop, no matter what the problem, so I could pay for school. Other than Thaddeus, no one took me up on the offer. I asked each of my Facebook friends to consider sending me just $20. Only one person responded and he told me how lame it was for me to send a message through Facebook asking for help. All of my friends and family were unwilling or unable to help me. Seems I asked one time too many for help.
On the day the payment was due, the administrator of the school gave me one more day to come up with the funds to pay the tuition. Otherwise, I would be dropped from the program. A good friend who was visiting family in North Carolina called and told me he would pay the $490 on my behalf.
Now that all of my lifelines have been used and Plan Z seems to be working, I need one last miracle - a job with that one nursing home or organization within reasonable distance by bus that is willing to hire a new CNA who doesn't have a GA driver license or a car. Georgia will not issue me an ID card or driver license until I pay a fine associated with my expired California driver license. I have a valid Missouri ID card, a Social Security Card and birth certificate. I worked for 15 years with LAPD, so my identity is very easy to verify. Other than having the worst possible credit, I will pass any background check and drug test. I know that facility is out there. I just need to find them.
Happy New Year, indeed!
